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Defensive frailties undermine Celtics potency

THE first game of the season between last year’s top two teams normally would be decided in midfield, where you win the edge in close matches. This one is different. I expect it to come down to two very different back fours, one with a lot to prove over the season and the other with a lot to do on the day.

Celtic’s ill-advised trip to Japan last midweek left Gordon Strachan worrying over the lack of reliable depth in his squad, and rightly so. Of even more concern to the manager should be the state of his starting defence. When he plays his first picks, Strachan’s team are fluid and potent in midfield, and Kenny Miller and Maciej Zurawski showed against Kilmarnock how devastating their movement is up front. The defence is the area that opposition teams will focus on and it gives Hearts their biggest chance of success